Caladium plant named ‘Freckles’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Freckles’, characterized by its compact, intermediate height, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate; fancy type leaves that are dark green in color with orange and pink-colored spots and blotches; tolerance to full sun conditions; and above average tolerance to  Xanthomonas  Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FRECKLES’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Freckles’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Twist N' Shout’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Freckles’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Freckles’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, intermediate height, upright and uniformly mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate.     -   3. Fancy type leaves that are dark green in color with orange         and pink-colored spots and blotches.     -   4. Tolerant to full sun conditions.     -   5. Above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Twist N' Shout’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium have ovate-shaped leaves whereas         leaves of ‘Twist N' Shout’ have hastate-shaped leaves.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are smoother and flatter         than leaves of ‘Twist N' Shout’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Twist N' Shout’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of ‘Twist N' Shout’ are olive green in         color with green to coppery bronze-colored venation and coppery         orange-colored spots and blotches.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Red Flash’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Red         Flash’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are less apically dominant and are         denser than plants of ‘Red Flash’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Flash’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Red Flash’ have red-colored venation and         interveinal areas with pink and white-colored spots and dark         green-colored borders.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Flash’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Red Flash’ are reddish pink         to tan pink in color with darker-colored stippling, stripes and         tessellations.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Creamsickle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,991. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Creamsickle’ in leaf color as leaves of ‘Creamsickle’ have greyed green-colored centers and venation with greyed green and greyed purple-colored interveinal areas interspersed with dark green-colored sectors and surrounded by dark green-colored borders. In addition, plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Creamsickle’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Frieda Hemple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Frieda         Hemple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are medium green in color         with bright red-colored centers and venation.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are dark         brownish green, close to black, in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Freckles’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Twist N' Shout’ (left), ‘Freckles’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Red Flash’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Creamsickle’ (left), ‘Freckles’ (center) and ‘Frieda Hemple’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Freckles’ grown in containers; the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Freckles’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Freckles’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Freckles’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were seven weeks old (vegetative plant photographs and description) and nine weeks old (inflorescence photograph and description), and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were eight months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Freckles’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Twist N'             Shout’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;             individual segments ovate to irregular in shape. Height:             About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 cm to 7.7 cm. Segment             height: About 3.3 cm. Segment diameter: About 3.6 cm.             Axillary buds, height: About 5 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy;             somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close             to 159A or close to 159A tinged with close to N170D; outer             skin, close to 199A tinged with close to N199A. Epidermis,             dried: Close to 200A. Cortical tissue: Close to 10D.             Axillary buds: Close to 36B. Root description: Thick, fleshy             contractile roots; color, close to 155C. Rooting habit:             Medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded and full sunlight areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height, upright and             uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous and dense growth             habit; very rapid growth rate; potted plants in finished or             saleable form in about seven weeks after planting tubers;             leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing             points on tubers; petioles mostly upright and curving             outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 31 cm to 40 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 42.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 33 cm to 45 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About two develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 6             cm to 9 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2.2 cm. Shape:             Wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute to cuspidate. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, inner surface: Close to 194D; colors and             patterns on the outer surface are visible on the inner             surface. Color, outer surface: Close to between 156C and             195C, variably tinged with close to 182D and 147A and             stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 199A to             200A tinged with close to 147A; with development, color             becoming closer to 200A to 200B and 200C stained with close             to 187C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 21 cm to 30             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 13             cm to 18.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Dull sheen; immature leaves with             somewhat metallic sheen.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Ground color: Darker and more green than 139A             tinged with close to 147A. Midvein and primary veins: Darker             than 139A tinged with close to 147A. Interveinal areas:             Large blotches, close to 47A and close to 47A tinged with             close to 48A; spots, close to 49A and 49B typically             surrounded with close to 194B to 194C. Leaf petiole             attachment site and adjacent areas: Close to N186A. Margins:             Thin margin, close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to N187C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Ground color: Close to             191A and close to 191A tinged with close to 189A. Midvein             and primary veins: Close to 194B tinged with close to 160C.             Secondary veins: Close to 191A tinged with close to 189A             surrounded with close to 193A. Interveinal areas: Large             blotches, close to 49B, close to 179D tinged with close to             194D, close to 37C and close to 37C tinged with close to             194D; spots, close to 49C and close to 49D tinged with close             to 194D. Leaf petiole attachment site and adjacent area:             Tinged with close to 187C. Margins: Thin margin, close to             187A. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Ground color: Darker and more green than 139A             tinged with close to 137A. Midvein and primary veins: Darker             than 139A tinged with close to 137A. Interveinal areas:             Large blotches, close to 47A, close to 47A tinged with close             to 48A and close to 179A; spots, close to 49A and 49B             typically surrounded with close to 194C. Leaf petiole             attachment site and adjacent areas: Close to N186A. Margins:             Thin margin, close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to N187C.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Ground color: Close to             191A. Midvein and primary veins: Close to 195B tinged with             close to 160C. Secondary veins: Close to 191A tinged with             close to 189A surrounded with close to 193A. Interveinal             areas: Large blotches, close to 37C, close to 37C tinged             with close to 194C and close to 179D tinged with close to             194C; spots, close to 49C and close to 49D tinged with close             to 194D. Leaf petiole attachment site and adjacent area:             Tinged with close to 187C. Margins: Thin margin, close to             187A. Basal notch: Close to 187A.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, curving outwardly; flexible. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 24 cm to 35 cm.             Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             4.5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown             potted plants: About 7 mm to 12 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants:             Close to 195A variable tinged with close to 182D, stippled,             streaked and tessellated with close to 199A and close to             200A tinged with close to 147B; below the leaf and petiole             junction, close to 195A or close to 195B faintly tinged with             close to 182D, variably and faintly stippled, streaked and             tessellated with close to N199A. Wing length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4.7 cm to 8 cm. Wing             diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 1 cm.             Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Dull to slightly glossy. Wing             color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Inner surface: Close             to 194D; colors and patterns on the outer surface are             visible on the inner surface. Outer surface: Close to 156C             and close to 195C variably tinged with close to 182D and             147A, stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 199A             and 200A tinged with close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on nine week-old     shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; sweet, jasmine-like with camphor             note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about nine weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 12 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 8 cm. Length, proximal closed portion: About             4 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 5 cm. Depth, distal             open portion: About 2.4 cm. Width, at constriction: About             1.4 cm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 2.6 cm. Shape:             Elliptic to slightly obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse,             tapered. Margin: Entire; flat to slightly recurved. Texture,             front and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, front             surface: Dull sheen. Luster, rear surface: Slightly             glaucous, dull sheen. Color, front surface: Distal open             portion: Close to 155C and close to 157A with sparse fine             speckles or spots, close to 47A or close to 179A; with             development, color becoming closer to 199A. Proximal closed             portion: Overall, close to 148D; proximally streaked and             flushed with close to 187A and 187B; color does not change             with development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion:             Close to 157D flushed with close to 145C and 145D; color             does not change with development. Proximal closed portion:             Close to 147B and close to 147C tinged with close to 146D;             color does not change with development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 10.6 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 5.5 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 3.1 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 2 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 6.5 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Columnar. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright.             Color, mature, male zone: Close to 155B. Color, mature,             sterile zone: Close to 155B. Color, mature, female zone:             Close to 8D and 159D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 160. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             4C to 4D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 190.             Shape: Ovate. Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 8D and             159D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 30.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Dull sheen; glaucous. Color: Close             to 147B tinged with close to 148B; stippled and streaked             with close to 199A; just below spathe, close to 146B tinged             with close to 147B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot     and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Freckles’ as illustrated and described. 